AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 29 December 2003, a jury acquitted Dr. Valentin Danilov of espionage charges. The Russian Security Service arrested Valentin Danilov, head of the Thermo-Physics Center at Krasnoyarsk State Technical University, in February 2001 on charges of treason and fraud for allegedly selling top secret satellite information to a Chinese company. His research dealt with the effect of solar activity on space satellites. Dr. Danilov has consistently maintained that this information has been available in scientific journals and had been declassified for over 10 years.

According to the chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki group, a human rights organization in Russia, “There is a trend to arrest scientists and accuse them of spying without any foundation.” Faced with increased economic hardships, many scientists have turned to commercial ventures abroad.

The positive resolution of Dr. Danilov’s case appears to be related to the fact that the case was tried before a jury. Jurors appear to be better shielded from political pressures than trials held before judges.

Last spring, a regional court ruled that Dr. Danilov could be released on bail, but his family was unable to raise the necessary funds. The American Physical Society initiated a successful campaign to raise the money. In total, they raised over $4,000 from 40 U.S.-based scientists. The money raised by the physicists was highly publicized in Russia and was effective in demonstrating the strong international support for Dr. Danilov.

Dr. Danilov reports that he is doing well. He suffered a heart attack while in pretrial detention and was briefly hospitalized. The years he spent in jail took a serious toll on his health.

(Sources of information for this case include: American Physical Society Committee for the International Freedom of Scientists and the The New York Times article, “Rare Russian Jury Acquits Scientist in Spy Case” by Seth Mydans, published on 30 December 2003.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

No action is necessary at this time for Dr. Danilov’s case. Many thanks to all those who sent letters of appeal.

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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